Mount Mary University traces its roots to 1872, when the School Sisters of Notre Dame established St. Mary's InstituteinPrairie du Chien, Wisconsin.[6] In 1913, the school introduced a college curriculum and was renamed St. Mary's College, chartered by the state of Wisconsin to grant degrees. It was the first four-year Catholic college for women in Wisconsin.[2]
In 1926, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee requested that St. Mary's College move to Milwaukee to make Catholic education available to a wider group of students. An 80-acre campus was purchased on the west side of Milwaukee.[6] On September 12, 1928, the cornerstone of the new campus was laid and the school was renamed Mount Mary College. The college opened its doors to students in 1929.[7]
In July 2013, the college changed its name to Mount Mary University.[8]
Mount Mary also offers a dual degree program in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin. Through this program, students can earn a dual Baccalaureate and Master of Public Health degrees in five years.[19]
Mount Mary's core curriculum is based on the human search for meaning. The core curriculum consists of studies in philosophy/theology, communication/math, humanistics, literature/fine arts, and science. The core courses "provide breadth within the liberal arts by allowing students to construct an understanding of the perspectives that each of the disciplines offers in each person's lifelong search for meaning."[20]
Mount Mary offers seven master's degree programs and one doctoral degree program. In 1982, Mount Mary launched its first graduate program, the Master of Science in Dietetics program.[27][28] In 1990, Mount Mary launched its Master of Science in Art Therapy[29] and Master of Arts in Education: Professional Development[27] degree programs. The Master of Science in Art Therapy program has been accredited by the American Art Therapy Association since 1995.[30]
The Master of Arts in English program began in 2006.[27] Mount Mary launched its Master of Business Administration program in 2008.[32] The Professional Doctorate of Art Therapy program was launched in 2011, and was the first program of its kind in the United States.[33]
The first two buildings on the Mount Mary campus, Notre Dame Hall and Caroline Hall, opened in 1929. Notre Dame Hall housed classrooms and administrative offices. Caroline Hall served as the student residence hall.[7] Both buildings have had many updates throughout the years, but continue to house classrooms, administrative offices, and student residences.
In May 1953, ground was broken for Fidelis Hall, a residence for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and Kostka Hall, a building housing an auditorium.[34][35] The buildings were completed in 1954, and 198 freshmen were welcomed in the fall at the academic investiture held in Kostka Hall.[36]
The Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Library opened in 1981. It was renovated in 2011 and now houses a computer lab, group study rooms, and quiet study spaces.[37]
Ground was broken for the Gerhardinger Center in 2002.[38] The building was opened in 2004 and is named to honor Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger of Jesus, foundress of the School Sisters of Notre Dame order. The 33,000-square-foot (3,100 m2) building houses the college's electronic lecture hall, Cyber Cafe, and science and occupational therapy classrooms and labs.[39]
The Bloechl Recreation Center opened in 2006. The 24,800-square-foot (2,300 m2) building houses basketball and volleyball courts, a fitness center, training rooms, locker rooms, offices, a concession area, and a classroom for aerobics, dance, and yoga.[40]
Mount Mary University students can participate in several student clubs and organizations, campus ministry activities, honor societies, and athletics teams. In congruence with the university's mission, Mount Mary also encourages students to participate in social justice and service learning activities on and off campus, as well as study abroad experiences.
The student-run newspaper, Arches, won awards for general web excellence, sports reporting, graphics, and general reporting at the Wisconsin Newspaper Association's Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest in 2012.[41]
The university is host to sports teams, musical performances, lectures, and other events throughout the year, including exhibits of regional artists' works in the Marian Art Gallery.
CREO is Mount Mary University's annual event that showcases arts and design student work and celebrates creativity. The event includes a student art gallery and student-designer fashion show. The annual fashion show began in 1967.[21] The show moved off campus for the first time in 2011[42] and draws an audience of nearly 1,200 each year.[43]
The Fashion Department began the Historic Costume Collection in 1965. The collection consists of 9,000 pieces dating 1750 to the present, and features significant 20th-century women's couture and ready-to-wear garments. The Historic Costume Collection includes pieces from actress Lynn Fontanne, Eunice Johnson, and Chanel.[44][45][46]
Mount Mary University's Marian Art Gallery hosts national, regional, and local art shows throughout the year. School of Arts and Design students, faculty, and alumnae also have the opportunity to display their work in the gallery. The gallery is open to the public and is located on the first floor of Caroline Hall.[47]
Since 1968, Mount Mary has been hosting the annual Starving Artists' Show. The show features local and national artists who work in all types of mediums, selling artwork for $100 or less. Attendance has averaged 8,000 or higher in recent years.[48][49][50]
Ann Angel, author of Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing and Mount Mary faculty member[52]
Eliza Audley, owner of Eliza Audley fashion design company, who created a line of women's tennis clothing worn by athletes at the 2012 London Olympics[53]
Elizabeth Barbone, blogger and cookbook author of Easy Gluten-Free Baking[54]
Cynthia (Dohmen) LaConte, CEO of Dohmen Company and president of Dohmen Company Foundation[58][59]
Marie O'Brien, president and CEO of Enterforce, a company ranked #4 in the Top 50 Fastest Growing Women-Led Companies in North America by Entrepreneur magazine[60][61]
Donna Ricco, fashion designer whose designs are distributed in department stores such as Nordstrom and Macy's, and who is noted for designing a dress worn by First Lady Michelle ObamaonThe View TV program during the U.S. presidential race.[62]
